module specification

The module aims to provide a foundation for the understanding of politics and government:
• It introduces students to the methods and methodologies appropriate to the study of government including comparative methodology.
• Mastering this subject matter will aid the development of critical skills that are transferable to a variety of contexts, thus assisting employability prospects.

Methods and methodologies for the study of government, LO1,LO3
Comparative Methodology, LO2,LO4
Institutions and structures of government, LO2
The policy process, LO2
Comparative government with appropriate case studies including the United Kingdom. LO2,LO3
Employability for students of government. LO3,LO4

Teaching consists of a weekly two hour lecture followed by a one hour tutorial.
During the teaching period, students are expected to spend 9 hours per week in preparation and private study.
Lectures will involve a combination of taught lectures, videos, skills workshops, and the use of primary and secondary documents and websites.
During the module seminars will combine a variety of methods including discussion based on pre-set questions and role plays.
Blended Learning will be a key component of the module, building on existing face-to-face contact time via a virtual environment, and offering additional resources for students to develop further their subject knowledge and skills.
Lecture notes and primary and secondary documents for use in class will be posted on line, as will web links for academic and governmental websites, as well as video links.  Some recorded material by the module convenor may also be made available on line.

Materials for use in class will be posted at least one week in advance on line to allow students to reflect on the subject and prepare.
Questions for class discussion will be available from the beginning of the module via the Module Booklet available on weblearn, which will include a list of resources students can use to answer the questions and study the subject in greater depth.

Skills development will form a central component of the module, including specific sessions on essay preparation and writing, complimenting skills workshops featured on other Level Four modules provided by PIR.

There will be one activity weeks which also form part of the syllabus, allowing further skills development and subject-specific study.

The transferable employability skills students should have developed include:
• The ability to communicate effectively in speech (the ability to work under pressure in seminars, where students must demonstrate the ability to respond to questions orally) and writing (for example, writing an essay using commonly accepted standards of definition, analysis, grammatical prose, and documentation);
• Research skills, including the ability to synthesise and analyse arguments, to read and understand texts on international relations, and to exercise critical judgement;
• The capacity to work independently, demonstrating initiative, self-organisation and time-management, as well as co-operating with other students to achieve common goals.

1. The ability to understand the nature and range of what is political
           2. To understand the workings of government as a core element of the political, with reference to relevant case studies including the United Kingdom
•       3. In broader terms, students will develop an understanding of the contested and problematic character of inquiry in this, as in any, discipline. This is a key employability skill.
           4. Develop academic skills in research, reading, analysis, presentation and writing

One formative piece of work is required for this module.

This is a short paper, of up to 500 words, succinctly stating the key principles and claims of one of the major political ideologies explored in the first 8 weeks of the module. This will be commented on by the module tutor in order to identify key strengths and areas for improvements in writing skills (in relation to the written assignment which is one part of the summative assessment – see below) and subject awareness and understanding. The short paper will be submitted on line.

A summative assessment of an essay,
A second component of summative assessment will be seminar assessment.

CORE

Axford, Barrie, et al. (2002) Politics: An Introduction, London, Routledge.
Hague, Rod and Harrop, Martin (2016 – latest ed.) Comparative Government and Politics: An Introduction, edition, Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan.
Jones, Bill and Norton, Philip (eds.) (2010) Politics UK, 7th edition, Harlow, Pearson Education.

ADDITIONAL

Budge, Ian(2007) The New British Politics, 4th edition, Harlow, Pearson Longman.
Kavanagh, Dennis and Cowley, Philip (2010) The British General Election of 2010, Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan.